PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Runnels has always been the school for all races, religion, and national origins.
FRIDAY FOCUS
Welcome to  Friday Focus , our weekly e-newsletter from Head of School Marcia Mackay.


Welcome to our first issue of  Friday Focus for the 2017-2018 academic year! After a strong recovery from the historic flood of 2016, we're ready for a smooth, happy and worry-free year ahead. Since "Hakuna Matata" from  The Lion King so perfectly captures this outlook, we're embracing it as our theme for the fresh, inspiring and promising school year to come. 

In focus this week are Welcome to Runnels!; Solar Eclipse, 2017; The Unsinkable Molly Brown; Alumna Awarded Tulane Legislative Scholarship; Looking for Chester Raccoon Introduces Kindergartners to Campus; Teachers Pick up Pointers at Summer Conferences; Friendly Reminders; and Sports. 

Mrs. Smith greets Hamdan Mohammed at carpool on his first day of first grade at Runnels.
Welcome to Runnels!   

New and returning students were greeted with warm hugs and big smiles as they arrived on both campuses for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 15. When the morning bell rang to signal the start of the school year, 95 new students took their seats in Runnels classrooms.   "We're starting the school year with more enrolled students than we began with last year," said Admissions Director Sarah Haase. In addition to the bump in enrollment, she said more families are deciding to stay at Runnels.  "Our retention rate is higher than it has been in the last five years. I'm confident this trend will continue," Mrs. Haase added. 


In Cyndy Krul's 3rd-grade science class, Carter Rogillio (left) and Daniel Tate use Oreo cookies to learn about the phases of the moon.
Solar Eclipse 2017
The excitement surrounding the eclipse has inspired many creative and challenging lessons about our solar system. In Mrs. Krul's 3rd-grade science class, students used Oreo cookies (pulled apart and with some of the filling scraped off) to recreate in miniature the phases of the moon. 

On Monday, in Mrs. Garrett's 1st-grade science classes, students will watch NASA's live stream of the eclipse on the Smartboard while having a "Solar Viewing" party.  Earlier this summer, LPB selected Mrs. Garrett's classes to receive solar viewing glasses. 

Though students won't be wearing the glasses outside at school to view the eclipse (click here to view letters about school procedures pertaining to the eclipse that were sent home Tuesday), they did enjoy trying them on earlier this week for indoor photos. Look for those photos to appear on LPB's Facebook page next week. 


Freshman Caroline Collins headlines the cast of The Unsinkable Molly Brown. 
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Our Alumni, Students and Friends Summer Theatre series returns September 8-10 with the rip-roaring musical adventures of The Unsinkable Molly Brown . Based on the rags-to-riches life of American socialite and Titanic survivor, Margaret Brown, the play originally opened on Broadway in 1960 and was adapted into a blockbuster film starring Debbie Reynolds in 1964. 

The show runs for three performances, Sept. 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 10 at 2 p.m., in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre. Tickets are $12 online and $15 at the door. They will be available starting Aug. 21. (Online ticket sales close 12 hours before showtime.)          


Preschool faculty members in New Orleans for the 2017 CEW Workshop.
Working Vacations 
Many Runnels teachers took advantage of the summer break to sharpen their instructional skills by participating in conferences and workshops, technology training, classes and professional development opportunities. 

The entire faculty and staff gathered in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre on Aug. 9 for a back-to-school in-service that included a presentation by local psychologist Dr. William Daigle on How to Foster Learning in the Classroom for Children Affected by Unresolved Trauma. Later, at a meeting of the elementary faculty, he spoke on communicating effectively with children who are facing challenges. At the preschool later that day, the preschool teachers attended a talk by guest speaker Wendy Leger on "Coaching the Emotionally Intelligent Child." 

Some teachers traveled a bit further afield to attend professional development sessions. Jr./Sr. High Vice Principal Rita Haik and IT Director Michele Macloud went to San Antonio in June for the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Conference and Expo, Kindergarten Director Paula Naquin and kindergarten teacher Lisa Latona went to Phoenix in early June for the Gessell Developmental Observation Workshop, and the preschool faculty and staff took part in CEW (Childhood Education Workshop) 2017 sponsored by the Children's Ministry Office of Louisiana Baptists. In addition, many teachers attended Google certification training and testing sessions on the main campus.


Seniors Kaylen Howe (left) and Ali Garrity share a laugh at our very first "Senior Sunrise."
Establishing New Traditions
Two new spirit events were rolled out to rave reviews this week in the junior and senior high school. The Class of 2018 gathered at 6:30 a.m. on the lawn in front of Novak Hall to greet the first sunrise of the school year together. The "Senior Sunrise" included a lavish picnic breakfast provided by senior mom Monique Howe and music, bubbles, sidewalk art and plenty of laughter and fellowship.

On Wednesday, everyone in the junior and senior high had the opportunity to put their best foot forward in our first ever "Fancy Feet Foto Contest."  Fifteen finalists were chosen to have their footwear photographed for the last round of competition. The pictures were printed and posted on the bulletin board outside the library in Novak Hall so students could pick their favorites and cast their votes online.  We'll let you know who about winners and prizes in next week's Friday Focus.   


Evan Lee, 1C, inspects a new Chromebook in Mrs. LeBleu's class. 
What's New at School?
Lower elementary students are gearing up to join our 1:1 Chromebook program this fall. Students in grades 1-3 will be getting their own individual computers for use in classrooms. The devices, explained Head of School and Elementary Principal Marcia Mackay, will be used to supplement hands-on learning and teaching, not replace it. "Although computers are important, they will not take away from our already robust instruction."

There are also some changes and improvements on the bricks and mortar side of campus life. Classrooms are sparkling after having been refreshed, repainted and imaginatively redecorated over the summer.  The outside of McMath Hall was repainted, and the lockers surrounding it repaired and resurfaced. New lockers for that area have been ordered and will arrive around Thanksgiving. At the rear of the campus, the parking lot behind the theater has been repaved. 

At the preschool, there's a new roof over the front building, a new potting shed in Ms. Christy's Discovery Garden, a lovely new window in the clinic area, and fresh plants and mulch are in place in many outdoor areas.

Kindergartner Madison Vaughn with a picture of Chester the Raccoon to take home. 
A Letter from Chester 
Chester the Raccoon, a character from the much loved, children's classic book,  The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn, does not want to go to school. To ease his fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret that gives him the courage he needs to face scary things like the first day of school.

To help guide the new kindergartners through the anxiety of starting school on a new campus, the kindergarten faculty sent each child a copy of The Kissing Hand in the mail over the summer.

On the first day of school, the teachers opened the book to read it to the children and discovered correspondence from Chester the Raccoon inviting them to go on a scavenger hunt around the campus to find him. 

The students tracked him through the playground, elementary library, clinic and many other school locations. This helped the kindergartners become familiar with their new surroundings. 

They didn't find Chester, but upon returning to the classroom, they did find treats he kindly left for them to enjoy. (See more photos in Weekly Album.)

Rachel Yura
Tulane Legislative Scholarship
Rachel Yura, a member of last May's graduating class, is the recipient of a Tulane Legislative Scholarship for the 2017-2018 academic year. The award, which covers one full year's tuition at the university, is valued at $48,920.

Although Rachel plans to major in psychology at Tulane, she's excited to be able to continue her harp studies, which she started way back in 2009 as a member of the very first Runnels harp class. 

At the university, she will be a member of a three-person harp ensemble under the direction of faculty member and professional harpist Kathy Anderson. Also in the harp ensemble will be 2013 Runnels graduate Mary Katherine Koch. Now a law school student at Tulane, Mary Katherine, like Rachel, is a former member of the Runnels Harp Choir.

Rachel is the daughter of Brooke and Tom Yura.         


Kudos & Thank You 
Google Certified!
     Many of our teachers participated in Google certification training and testing sessions on campus this summer.  Faculty members now certified at level 1 are: Samantha Chaisson, Julie Fink, Gina Golda, Kylie Harbin, Jean Martinez, Karen Matthews, Neena McLain, Wendy Milam, Leah Pizzalato, Dana Schlotterer, Rhonda Tucker and Sherry Wilks.. Earning certification at levels 1 and 2 are Michele Macloud, Renee' Miller, Ann Ostrom and Kayleigh Smith. 
     "In junior and senior high," explained Vice Principal Rita Haik, "the goal is to have all teachers level 1 certified by the end of the school year. We plan to have another level 1 training and testing opportunity this semester and offer a level 2 training and testing session in the spring."  


Thanks, Mural Painters
    Next time you're on the main campus, stop by the kindergarten playground area and take a look at the fabulous, nature- and play-themed outdoor mural our high school art students just finished painting on the fence. 
     Painting students in Mrs. McGraw's classes started the project last spring and this year's students just completed the finishing touches. 
     Many thanks to Mrs. McGraw and artists Maddy Sutton, Gracie Smith, Kyle Sieberth, Hannah Page, Zachary Sides, Julia Sager, Madisan Milam, Jo Church, Hannah Cassano and Kate Oehrle for this generous and thoughtful gift to our school.   
Teachers Love Runnels
     "Forty-two members of our faculty and staff have been at Runnels for more than 10 years," announced Head of School Marcia Mackay at the annual teachers meeting held in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre Aug. 9. "We're so lucky to have the benefit of their knowledge, experience and wisdom," she added.
     Celebrating teaching milestones are Paula Naquin and Pamela Culp, 35 years of service; Wendy Worsham, 26 years; Millie Johnson and Mark Landry, 24 years; Joni Orgeron, John Baird and Tookie Johnson, 23 years; Marcia Gregg and Karen Runnels, 22 years; Pamela Babcock, Renee' Crow, Janice Leger, Lee Randall and Johnice Thoms, 21 years, and Leah Jordan, Jean Martinez, Christine Pousson and Allison Wrenn, 19 years.  




Practicing measuring techniques in Mr. Baird's 5th-grade science class.

In this week's album: 5th-grade math, flag corps practice, Mrs. Aucoin's class at the Peace Pole, Chester Raccoon activities in kindergarten, painting class finishes the playground mural, preschool candids, Mrs. Worsham's 3rd-grade math class, and Jr/.Sr. High School Back-to-School Night for Parents.       



Monday, Aug. 21 from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Sky Zone Trampoline Park   
If purchasing tickets at Sky Zone, ask for the Runnels Fundraiser Jump.
Sky Socks and Waiver Required /  Children must be accompanied by a parent.

Back-to-School Events for Parents

     We hope you can join us for these Back-to-School events for parents coming up in elementary and preschool grades. (Open House is one of our few events for adults only. The only events that will include students are the ones for Pre-K and Kindergarten.) 
 
Grades 1-6 Back-to-School Afternoon for Parents
Sunday, August 27, 2:00 p.m. - Gladys  Hague Runnels Theatre
 
Preschool - 2s Parents Night
Tuesday, August 29, 6:30 p.m. - Molly Hightower Activity Building
 
Preschool - 3s Parents Night
Thursday, August 31, 6:30 p.m. - Molly Hightower Activity Building
 
Preschool - Pre-Kindergartners Parents Day
Thursday, September 7 at 8:30 a.m. - Molly Hightower Activity Building
Friday, September 8 at 8:30 a.m. - Molly Hightower Activity Building
     You will receive more information about which date you are scheduled to attend as the dates approach. (This event is for Pre-K students and their parents.)
 
Kindergarten Open House
Friday, September 15, 8:30 a.m. - Kindergarten Classrooms
(This event is for kindergarten students and their parents.

Friendly Reminders

August 23 - 11:20 a.m., Jr./Sr. High Honor and Merit Roll Recognition Ceremony, Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre

August 25 - 7:00 p.m., Junior Beta Dance (for grades 6-8), Catalano Gym

ATHLETIC CORNER

Tennis Team Gains New Assistant Coach 
Coach Keenan Ruff

We're delighted to welcome Keenan Ruff to our school family as the new assistant coach of the tennis team. Originally from Norfolk, VA, Coach Ruff attended Norfolk State University on full scholarship where he was an NCAA Division I tennis student athlete. After completing a bachelor's degree in English, he moved to Baton Rouge and attended LSU's Paul Hebert School of Law, earning his Juris Doctorate and Comparative Law Diploma.

A passion for sports led him to coaching opportunities in tennis and volleyball. Coach Ruff has trained some of Louisiana's top junior tennis players, including the reigning state singles champion.

Runnels head tennis coach Katherine Sieberth said she is excited to have Coach Ruff working with the team.  "He is a tough, caring and supportive coach who believes student athletes must first excel in the classroom before sports achievements."

VARSITY SPORTS

CROSS COUNTRY 
The Running Raiders began practice this week.

SWIMMING 
Members of our swim team dove back into the water to start preparing for competition.

TENNIS
Beginning/intermediate tennis clinics for students in grades 5-8 will be held on Saturday mornings in September and October. The spring varsity season will kick off with practices in December. For more information: k.sieberth@runnels.org

VOLLEYBALL
The Lady Raiders opened the season this week with scrimmages at West Feliciana and Ascension Christian.


JR HIGH SPORTS

BASEBALL
Fall baseball camp begins Monday, August 21,
 

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Baton Rouge, LA 70816
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